Young black bear escapes from rescue but may not survive deep snow, CA rescuers say
A young and shy black bear evaded rescuers and fled from its enclosure in California.
Now wildlife officials are worried about the animal being in the deep snow for too long.
The 1-year-old male fled from an enclosure at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care around 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 9 in South Lake Tahoe, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a Facebook post.
It’s been missing for nearly a week as of Feb. 15.
Wildlife officials are asking the public to keep an eye out for the bear because it’s too young to be on its own long-term in the deep snow and winter conditions, officials said.
The animal weighs about 50 pounds, has a microchip and a metal tag in its right ear numbered 1028. While in the enclosure, the bear often hid away in its den, officials said.
But officials warn the public not to approach the bear if they see it because it “dislikes people and can be extremely skittish.”
“Please do try to maintain visual contact with the bear when reporting sightings, if possible,” officials said.
Wildlife officials said they believe the bear will stay hidden until its hungry. When it comes out of hiding, officials said this will be the best time to find it.
“This yearling has plenty of stored energy to last him a good while in the wild. He is approximately 12-to-13-months-old, has no medical issues and has a lot of survival skills,” officials said.
The bear was initially rescued on Dec. 13 from Seiad Valley in Siskiyou County and taken to the agency’s Wildlife Health Laboratory in Rancho Cordova.
At the time, the bear was too young to be alone and “severely underweight at just 20 pounds.”
This bear was then moved to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care where it put on about 30 pounds in two months, officials said.
Anyone who spots the bear should report it to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at 916-358-2917 or call the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care at 530-577-2273.
What to do if you see a bear
Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.
There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.
Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.
Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.
Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.
Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.
Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.
Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.
Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.
Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.
Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.
This story was originally published February 15, 2023 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Young black bear escapes from rescue but may not survive deep snow, CA rescuers say."
